The chief officer of a livestock carrier has been charged over their alleged role in attempting to import more than half a tonne off WA’s coast.
The Australian Federal Police and other agencies were investigating suspicious activity by the carrier when Lancelin locals found large packages tied to flotation drums in the ocean about 30 kilometres offshore.
The seized drugs. Credit: WA Police
“[Authorities] will allege the drugs were dropped into the ocean from an international livestock carrier on its way to Fremantle Harbour,” a spokesperson said.
“During a search of the ship … investigators located a blue drum and ropes allegedly similar to those found with the drugs. It will also be alleged … that a CCTV camera had been covered while the drugs were allegedly offloaded from the ship.”
Police said a few days before the drugs were found, authorities had been called to a boat that was taking on water off the coast of Guilderton.
Two men from Sydney had to be rescued, and police say the men were attempting to retrieve the cocaine at the time of the incident.
Further investigation found another man, from Perth, had also attempted to retrieve the cocaine at another point.
All three men were charged over their alleged connections to the illegal importation of the drugs, while the chief executive of the livestock carrier – a Croatian national – was charged with attempting to bring the drugs into Australia on board his ship.
Police said they found about 525kg of cocaine tied to the drums, and believe if the shipment had made its way to WA streets, it could have resulted in 2.5 million individual street deals to the tune of about $170 million.
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